Erica Verrillo has written seven books and published five. She doesn't know why anyone with an ounce of self-preservation would ever want to publish. But, if you insist on selling your soul to the devil, learn how to do it right: marketing, literary agents, book promotion, editing, pitching your book, how to get reviews, and ... most important of all ... everything she did wrong.
In the interests of protecting the right to free speech, she did not vote for Trump.
#NotMyPresident

Agents Seeking Clients

After you have finished your book, you will be anxious to find an agent. Believe it or not, there are agents who are anxious to find you! For your convenience I have assembled all my posts listing agents who are looking for new clients. The most recent posts are listed first. Start at the top and work your way down. (I have also listed links to helpful posts - how to work with an agent, some of the best ways to find the right agent for you, what agents want from writers, and more.)

A word to the wise! Before submitting anything to an agent, read their submission requirements carefully, and follow them to the letter. I'm not kidding about this. Agents are usually swamped with requests, and that means they will use any excuse to throw your submission into the cyber trash bin. Check your spelling a zillion times. Address your query to them personally and make sure you mention why you chose them.

And one more word - to the not-so-wise. There are a few unscrupulous people out there who claim to be agents, but who are really out to ensnare writers who are desperate to publish. Do NOT under any circumstances pay an "agent" to read your work, or to edit it. Do NOT get sucked into having your work crowdfunded, or placed before "beta readers." DO look agents up on Preditors and Editors, and on AgentQuery. You've worked hard on your book. It deserves good representation.

Amanda Ayers Barnett (Donaghy Literary) is interested in mystery/thrillers and middle-grade, young adult, new adult and women’s fiction, coming of age novels and precocious main characters.

Michael Caligaris (Holloway Literary) is looking for literary fiction, autobiographical fiction, short story collections or connected stories as a novel, LGBTQ lit, novels that are set in the Midwest or could be considered Americana, crime fiction, mystery/noir, dystopian fiction, civil unrest/political uprising/war novels, memoir, New Journalism and/or long-form journalism, essay collections, satirical/humor writing, and environmental writing.

Shana Kelly (Einstein Literary) is looking for novels with great writing and surprising plots; her favorite books fall between commercial and literary. She has a soft spot for well written thrillers and psychological suspense.

Maximilian Ximenez (L. Perkins Agency)is actively pursuing clients for both fiction and nonfiction works. In fiction, he is acquiring science fiction, fantasy, horror, and thrillers, particularly cyberpunk and neo-noir as well as books with a uniquely deconstructive bent. For nonfiction, Maximilian is seeking popular science, true crime, and books pertaining to arts and trends in developing fields and cultures.

Hannah Fergesen (KT Literary) is looking for young adult and middle-grade, as well as some select adult fiction.

Melissa Nasson (Rubin Pfeffer Content) is interested in middle-grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction. She is also accepting picture book queries. She is open to all genres, but has a special love for fantasy and science

Rick Pascocello (Glass Literary Management), a long-time marketing executive at Random House, is looking for nonfiction, including memoir, biography, history, narrative, business, sports, and popular culture, along with mainstream and literary fiction.

Grace Ross (Regal Hoffmann & Associates) is interested in literary fiction; historical fiction; international narratives; and dynamic plots that bridge genres. In nonfiction, she is looking for socially and politically conscious narratives, especially those that engage with cultural conversations about gender, race, and class in an accessible way; but she's also drawn to popular science, biography, cultural theory, and memoir.

Amanda Jain (Inklings) is seeking historical fiction (in all genres), women’s / book club / upmarket fiction, romance, mysteries, and narrative nonfiction in the areas of social history, archaeology, art history, and material culture. She is also interested in select young adult and middle grade projects with unique hooks and a strong voice.

Michael Hoogland (Dystel & Goderich) is looking for sci-fi, fantasy, thrillers, upmarket women’s fiction, and some children’s books (picture books, MG, and YA), as well as a wide variety of narrative nonfiction, including science, history, and politics.

Erik Hane (Red Sofa Literary) is seeking literary fiction, and for nonfiction, he seeks popular science, sports writing, popular culture/modern life, essays, and history.

Mitch Hoffman of Aaron Priest Literary Agency is seeking authors writing across the spectrum of fiction and nonfiction, including thrillers, suspense, crime fiction, and literary fiction, as well as narrative nonfiction, politics, popular science, history, memoir, current events, and pop culture.

Mary South (Lowenstein Associates) is seeking literary fiction, and in nonfiction: neuroscience, bioengineering, women's rights, design, and digital humanities, as well as investigative journalism, essays, and memoir.

Jennifer Johnson-Blalock (Liza Dawson) is looking for nonfiction: current events, social sciences, women’s issues, law, business, history, the arts and pop culture, lifestyle, sports, and food, including cookbooks and health/wellness; and in fiction, thrillers, especially ones that are psychological or have a literary bent, upmarket women’s fiction and contemporary YA.

Amanda Leuck of Spencerhill Associates is looking for literary and commercial YA, new adult fiction, urban fantasy, and romance in all genres, including edgy romantic suspense, contemporary and paranormal.

Lane Heymont of The Seymour Agency is especially interested in sci-fi and fantasy.

Caitie Flum of Liza Dawson Associates is looking for historical fiction, mysteries/thrillers of all kinds, magical realism, and memoirs. Caitie is also looking for Young Adult and New Adult projects, particularly romance, historical fiction, mysteries and thrillers, and contemporary books with diverse characters.

Amanda Panitch of Lippincott Massie McQuilkin is looking for young adult and middle grade only: high fantasy set in a non-Western inspired setting, dark psychological thrillers, quirky mysteries, literary contemporary, historical fiction set in a place or time not often explored in fiction, or anything featuring food as a main element.

Dan Balow of Steve Laube Literary Agency is looking for nonfiction for the Christian market, but represents a select number of novelists working in Christian historical, contemporary, Biblical, and futuristic genres.

Kimberly Brower of Rebecca Friedman Literary Agency is seeking commercial and literary fiction, with an emphasis in women’s fiction, contemporary romance, mysteries/thrillers, new adult and young adult, as well as certain areas of non-fiction, including business, diet and fitness. Kimberly is interested in representing English-language writers from all countries.

Monika Woods of Curtis Brown is seeking literary and commercial fiction, memoir, and compelling non-fiction in food, popular culture, science, and current affairs, historical fiction about feminists, darkly suspenseful stories (both true and made-up) with unreliable narrators, anything about Poland and its history, nonfiction that is creatively critical.

Julie Gwinn of The Seymour Agency is seeking Christian and Inspirational Fiction and Nonfiction, Women’s fiction (contemporary and historical), New Adult, Southern Fiction, Literary Fiction and Young Adult.

Patricia Nelson of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency is looking for adult and YA fiction. On the adult side, she is interested in literary fiction and commercial fiction in the New Adult, women’s fiction, and romance genres. For YA, she is looking for contemporary/realistic fiction as well YA mystery/thriller, horror, magical realism, science fiction and fantasy. She is also interested in finding exciting multicultural and LGBTQ fiction, both YA and adult.

Brent Taylor of TriadaUS Literary Agency is looking for middle grade, young adult, new adult, and select mystery/crime and women’s fiction.

Lana Popovic of Chalberg & Sussman is looking for Young Adult and Middle Grade projects, from contemporary realism to speculative fiction, fantasy, horror, sci-fi, and historical. For the adult market, Lana is interested in literary thrillers, horror, fantasy, sophisticated erotica and romance, and select nonfiction. An avid traveler, she has a particular fondness for stories set in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, although she also loves reading deep and original stories about American subcultures.

Soumeya Bendimerad of Hannigan Salky Getzler is actively seeking to represent literary fiction, upmarket/book club fiction, and select young-adult and middle grade. She is drawn to intelligent literary fiction with a fresh voice, coming of age stories, novels with elements of travel or stories set in other countries, family sagas, experiments with form, and complex but sympathetic characters. In non-fiction, she is seeking topics in popular culture, music and art history, unconventional business, politics, narrative non-fiction, sociology, cooking, travel, and memoir.

Stacy Testa of Writer's House is looking for literary fiction and upmarket commercial women’s fiction, particularly character-driven stories with an international setting, historical bent, or focus on a unique subculture. She also represents realistic young adult (no dystopian or paranormal, please!). For nonfiction, she is particularly interested in young “millennial” voices with a great sense of humor and a strong platform, startling and unique memoirs, and voice-driven narratives about little-known historical moments.

Rachel Brooks of BookEnds is excited about representing all genres of young adult and new adult fiction, as well as adult romance. While she is looking for all sub-genres of romance, she is especially interested in romantic suspense and urban fantasy.

Siobhan McBride of Serendipity Literary Agency is actively seeking voice driven narratives whether Fiction, Memoir, or Non-Fiction. She holds a strong interest in Literary and Gothic Fiction, Horror, Paranormal, Adult Dystopian, Mystery/Crime, Thrillers (bonus points if they’re psychological), Historical, daring Young Adult, and narratives with philosophical undertones. For Memoir and Nonfiction titles, she seeks Investigative, True Crime, and dark/bizarre History. Siobhan enjoys the dark, macabre aspects of life where paranormal fiction and horror are viewed an under appreciated art forms deeply rooted in psychology, and looks for authors unafraid to delve into these inner workings of the human psyche.

Cate Hart (Corvisiero Literary Agency) is looking forYA. She will consider any genre, but is looking especially for Fantasy and Magical Realism. For Middle Grade, she is looking for Fantasy, Adventure and Mystery with a humorous or heart-warming voice and a unique concept. For Adult, she is only accepting Historical Romance. Cate will also consider select LGBTQ and Erotica. For Non-Fiction, Cate will consider select histories and biographies.

Rena Rossner (Deborah Harris Agency) is looking for Fantasy and Science Fiction in all its permutations.

Holly Lorincz (MacGregor Literary) is looking for general market submissions in these areas: historical romance, literary or classic westerns, political or conspiracy thrillers, women's fiction, or literary fiction.

Jordy Albert (Booker Albert Literary Agency) is seeking Middle Grade - contemporary, fantasy, action/adventure, or historical. Young adult - open to pretty much any genre; however, she's looking especially for YA that has a very strong romantic element-or which romance plays an integral part in the plot). New Adult romance and adult romance (again, open to pretty much any genre).

John Weber (Serendipity Literary Agency) is looking for middle grade and young adult stories with universal themes told in unique settings. He is also interested in science fiction.

Jessica Negron of Talcott Notch Literary is interested in all kinds of YA and Adult fiction, but lean toward science fiction and fantasy (and all the little sub-genres), romance (the steamier, the better), and thrillers.

Steven Hutson of WordWise Media represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction books for adults and children. Spiritual themes are a favorite. Please no erotica, poetry, chainsaw murders, picture books, or screenplays.

Thank you Erica for giving back so much of personal knowledge to the writing community! I started writing a book years a go when I was healthy. Now I'm moving those thoughts to a new blog. I will be reading thru your posts as I'm new to the whole writing thing.

Walter Irvine blogs collections of observations and amusing stories based on real experiences, as far as you know. You may read his posts on Walt's Inquisitive Ramble at http:/www.waltsinquisitiveramble.blogspot.com